Photocatalysts and methods of making and using the same

Abstract

Photocatalysts and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The photocatalyst includes a TIO2 ultra-nanoparticle having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle and a single metal catalyst atom bound proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom. The method of making the photocatalyst includes generating a plurality of ultra-nano TIO2 particles, each having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle. The method further includes photodepositing a single metal catalyst atom proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom for at least a portion of the ultra-nano TIO2 particles, thereby creating the disclosed photocatalyst. The single metal catalyst atom is in a positive oxidation state and can be Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, Re, Au, Ni, Zn, or Cu.

1 . A photocatalyst comprising a TiO 2  ultra-nanoparticle having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle and a single metal catalyst atom bound proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom, wherein the single metal catalyst atom is in a positive oxidation state. 
     
     
         2 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the single metal catalyst atom is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, Re, Au, Ni, Zn, and Cu. 
     
     
         3 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the single metal catalyst atom is Pt. 
     
     
         4 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom is a single Fe atom. 
     
     
         15 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-nanoparticle has a diameter of between 0.8 nm and 2.5 nm. 
     
     
         20 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-nanoparticle contains between 20 formula units of TiO 2  and 1000 formula units of TiO 2 . 
     
     
         21 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the ultra-nanoparticle contains between 50 formula units of TiO 2  and 200 formula units of TiO 2 . 
     
     
         22 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the engineered defect is located at a [001] facet of the TiO 2 . 
     
     
         23 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the TiO 2  is anatase. 
     
     
         24 . The photocatalyst of  claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst substantially has a particle shape of a truncated square bipyramid. 
     
     
         25 . A composition comprising a plurality of the photocatalysts of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of the photocatalysts is mixed with a plurality of otherwise identical particles that lack the single metal catalyst atom but are otherwise identical to the photocatalyst. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the photocatalyst is present in an amount by weight or by number of particles of between 2% and 100%. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the composition is a solution and/or a liquid suspension. 
     
     
         29 . A film comprising the photocatalyst of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         30 . A method of making a photocatalyst, the method comprising:
 a) generating a plurality of ultra-nano TiO 2  particles, each having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle; and   b) photodepositing a single metal catalyst atom proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom for at least a portion of the plurality of ultra-nano TiO 2  particles, thereby resulting in a portion of the plurality of ultra-nano TiO 2  particles having a single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom positioned as an engineered defect within the particle and the single metal catalyst atom bound proximal to the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the photodepositing of step b) comprises photo irradiating the plurality of ultra-nano TiO 2  particles in the presence of a plurality of single metal catalyst atoms or ions, thereby capturing a portion of the single metal catalyst atoms or ions at the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom for at least a portion of the plurality of ultra-nano TiO 2  particles. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the single metal catalyst atom is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh, Os, Re, Au, Ni, Zn, and Cu. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the single metal catalyst atom is Pt. 
     
     
         34 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the single Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, or W atom is a single Fe atom. 
     
     
         45 - 48 . (canceled)